Release Notes

 

Network Magic 5.5

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What's new in this release

Network Magic 5.5 has a new Network Map that accommodates more devices on the map. Other improvements for this release include updates to the Add a Device and Go Wireless wizards, better handling of multiple wireless adapters in the Wireless Connection Manager and the ability to easily switch the band in use on Linksys dual-band routers that have a single radio. The Home Network Defender feature is also new to Network Magic 5.5 and is available only through Home Network Defender supported routers. Network Magic 5.5 is also localized into 32 non-English languages.

Known issues and helpful information

For a current updated list of known issues and workarounds, please go to http://www.purenetworks.com/support/. Our support page contains current information about Network Magic, including a FAQ and Knowledge Base.

Routers

Network Magic is fully compatible with most popular routers and recent router firmware versions. The Wireless Protection's Network Encryption and Network Lock features and the Home Network Defender feature work only with supported routers. For a complete list of these routers, please see the list of supported routers:
Routers that support Network Encryption
Routers that support Network Lock
Routers that support Home Network Defender

If your router and firmware is not listed, it may still work with Network Magic and most of its features.

Application Compatibility

Network Magic 5.5 and previous version compatibility issue In previous releases of Network Magic, having different versions of the application on the network were generally backwards compatible. Network Magic 5.5 is not backwards compatible with older versions (versions 2.1 or older) of the application. You will need to update all Network Magic installations on your network to version 5.5 to use all of the new features.

Network Magic 5.5 and Linksys EasyLink Advisor 3.0 and Linksys EasyLink Advisor 3.1 Linksys EasyLink Advisor is now Network Magic, giving you more features and improved stability to help you manage and protect your network. For more information on the change to Network Magic, please go to http://www.purenetworks.com/product/LELA.

Kaspersky Antivirus 6.0 can cause installation issues for Network Magic When using Kaspersky version 6.0 and Network Magic, Network Magic does not run and the Kaspersky process avp.exe consumes 98% or more of your CPU resources. This continues until either Network Magic or Kaspersky is uninstalled. This has been fixed in the most recent version of Kaspersky Antivirus.

Failure to start Network Magic trial If you have upgraded the operating system on your PC and get the following error when starting the Network Magic trial "Cannot Start Trial - Unexpected Error " please see the following KB article: http://support.networkmagic.com/cgi-bin/pure.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=192&p_created=1190413883

Upgrading to the new version of Network Magic could require reboot for shared folders from the desktop to work After upgrading to Network Magic 5.5, the desktop icon for Network Magic Folders and the right-click option to "Add to Shared Folders" may not work. To fix this issue, simply reboot the computer.

Firewall and Antivirus detection Network Magic uses the nmctxth process running in the Windows Task Manager for firewall and antivirus detection. If you stop this process, firewall and antivirus applications will not be detected and will stop functioning.

Net2Go

Net2Go in is not included or supported in Network Magic 5.5. If you wish to continue using Net2Go, you will need to keep your current Network Magic version and not upgrade to 5.5. Technical support will still be available for using Net2Go on older versions of Network Magic.

Free/Expired Version

Versions 5.0 and older of Network Magic retained the ability to use a limited set of features after trial expiration. For Network Magic 5.5, we have removed this capability for users who do not have a Linksys device on their network.

Access points, Range Extenders, and Bridges

Network Magic does not currently have functionality to recognize devices that are behind secondary wireless access points, range extenders, or other bridging devices. Devices in this scenario may be mis-detected in the Network Map, appearing as single device with incorrect device information. Network Magic is intended to be used in networks where all devices connect directly, either wired or wirelessly, to a single home router or gateway.

Network Printers

Network Magic’s printer sharing feature is intended for use with printers that connect directly to the PC, such as through a USB or Parallel cable. Printers or print servers that connect directly to the router may appear on the Network Map multiple times – both the router and to one or more PCs. If one of these printers is shared through Network Magic, note that the PC from which the printer was shared will need to be powered on in order to print to the network printer.

Low Screen Resolution

Network Magic 5.5 now supports computers with low screen resolution.

x64 Support

Network Magic 5.5 has been tested on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Vista for x64-based systems. In this release for these platforms, Windows Desktop Shell Integration is not supported.

Windows 7

Network Magic 5.5 has been minimally tested on pre-release versions of Windows 7 operating system. Full testing of Network Magic on this operating system will occur as it approaches readiness for release.

Windows 2000, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Network Magic 5.5 is no longer supported on Windows 2000, Windows 98SE and/or Windows Millennium Edition (ME) operating systems. Do not upgrade to Network Magic 5.5 if you wish to continue using Network Magic on your Windows 2000, 98 or ME machine(s).

Windows Service Pack Support

Network Magic 5.5 has not been tested on pre-release versions of Windows Service Packs. Testing on these Service Packs will occur as they approach readiness for release.

 

Network Magic 5.1

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What's new in this release

Network Magic 5.1 has a new Network Map with updated graphics and layout and new streamlined wizards to help you get the most from your network. Improvements for this release include updates to Wireless Protection, Add a Device, and Wireless Connection Manager wizards. Network Magic 5.1 is also localized into 32 non-English languages.

Network Magic Pro - All the updates in Network Magic Essentials plus additional capabilities, such as Internet Access Control, Desktop Screenshots and Network Magic Password to help monitor user activity on your network. Network Reports have been enhanced with more useful information and now includes Firefox 3 support.

Network Magic for Mac - This is an add-on product for people who use both PCs and Macs. This new version contains stability and performance enhancements, as well as bug fixes.

Known issues and helpful information

For a current updated list of known issues and workarounds, please go to http://www.purenetworks.com/support/. Our support page contains current information about Network Magic, including a FAQ and Knowledge Base.

Routers

Network Magic is fully compatible with most popular routers and recent router firmware versions. The Wireless Protection's Network Encryption and Network Lock features work only with supported routers. For a complete list of these routers, please see the list of supported routers:
Routers that support Network Encryption
Routers that support Network Lock

If your router and firmware is not listed, it may still work with Network Magic and most of its features.

Application Compatibility

Network Magic 5.1 and previous version compatibility issue In previous releases of Network Magic, having different versions of the application on the network were generally backwards compatible. Network Magic 5.1 is not backwards compatible with older versions (versions 2.1 or older) of the application. You will need to update all Network Magic installations on your network to version 5.1 to use all of the new features.

Network Magic 5.1 and Linksys EasyLink Advisor 3.0 Linksys EasyLink Advisor is now Network Magic, giving you more features and improved stability to help you manage and protect your network. For more information on the change to Network Magic, please go to http://www.purenetworks.com/product/LELA.

Kaspersky Antivirus 6.0 can cause installation issues for Network Magic When using Kaspersky version 6.0 and Network Magic, Network Magic does not run and the Kaspersky process avp.exe consumes 98% or more of your CPU resources. This continues until either Network Magic or Kaspersky is uninstalled. This has been fixed in the most recent version of Kaspersky Antivirus.

Failure to start Network Magic trial If you have upgraded the operating system on your PC and get the following error when starting the Network Magic trial "Cannot Start Trial - Unexpected Error " please see the following KB article: http://support.networkmagic.com/cgi-bin/pure.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=192&p_created=1190413883

Upgrading to the new version of Network Magic could require reboot for shared folders from the desktop to work After upgrading to Network Magic 5.1, the desktop icon for Network Magic Folders and the right-click option to "Add to Shared Folders" may not work. To fix this issue, simply reboot the computer.

Firewall and Antivirus detection Network Magic uses the nmctxth process running in the Windows Task Manager for firewall and antivirus detection. If you stop this process, firewall and antivirus applications will not be detected and will stop functioning.

Net2Go

Net2Go in is not included or supported in Network Magic 5.1. If you wish to continue using Net2Go, you will need to keep your current Network Magic version and not upgrade to 5.1. Technical support will still be available for using Net2Go on older versions of Network Magic.

Free/Expired Version

Versions 5.0 and older of Network Magic retained the ability to use a limited set of features after trial expiration. For Network Magic 5.1, we have removed this capability for users who do not have a Linksys device on their network.

Hide SSID

The Wireless Protection's Hide SSID feature has been removed.

Access points, Range Extenders, and Bridges

Network Magic does not currently have functionality to recognize devices that are behind secondary wireless access points, range extenders, or other bridging devices. Devices in this scenario may be mis-detected in the Network Map, appearing as single device with incorrect device information. Network Magic is intended to be used in networks where all devices connect directly, either wired or wirelessly, to a single home router or gateway.

Network Printers

Network Magic’s printer sharing feature is intended for use with printers that connect directly to the PC, such as through a USB or Parallel cable. Printers or print servers that connect directly to the router may appear on the Network Map multiple times – both the router and to one or more PCs. If one of these printers is shared through Network Magic, note that the PC from which the printer was shared will need to be powered on in order to print to the network printer.

x64 Support

Network Magic 5.1 has been tested on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Vista for x64-based systems. In this release for these platforms, Windows Desktop Shell Integration is not supported.

Windows 98 and Millennium Edition (ME)

Network Magic 5.1 is no longer supported on Windows 98SE and/or Millennium Edition (ME) operating systems. Do not upgrade to Network Magic 5.1 if you wish to continue using Network Magic on your 98 or ME machine.

Windows Service Pack Support

Network Magic 5.1 has not been tested on pre-release versions of Windows Service Packs. Testing on these Service Packs will occur as they approach readiness for release.

 

Network Magic 5.0

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What's new in this release

Network Magic 5.0 has a new look and feel, with updated graphics and layout and new streamlined wizards to help you get the most from your network. These improvements include updates to the WEP/WPA encryption, Internet Connection Repair, and Wireless Connection Manager wizards. The Network History graph has also been improved to make it easier to read and access history data.

Network Magic Pro - All the updates in Network Magic Essentials plus additional capabilities, such as Internet Access Control, Desktop Screenshots and Network Magic Password to help monitor user activity on your network. Network Reports have been enhanced with more useful information and now includes Firefox 3 support.

Network Magic for Mac - This is an add-on product for people who use both PCs and Macs. This new version contains stability and performance enhancements, as well as bug fixes.

Known issues and helpful information

For a current updated list of known issues and workarounds, please go to http://www.purenetworks.com/support/. Our support page contains current information about Network Magic, including a FAQ and Knowledge Base.

Routers

Network Magic is fully compatible with most popular routers and recent router firmware versions. The Wireless Protection's Network Encryption and Network Lock features work only with supported routers. For a complete list of these routers, please see the list of supported routers:
Routers that support Network Encryption
Routers that support Network Lock

If your router and firmware is not listed, it may still work with Network Magic and most of its features.

Application Compatibility

Network Magic 5.0 and previous version compatibility issue In previous releases of Network Magic, having different versions of the application on the network were generally backwards compatible. Network Magic 5.0 is not backwards compatible with older versions (versions 2.1 or older) of the application. You will need to update all Network Magic installations on your network to version 5.0 to use all of the new features.

Kaspersky Antivirus 6.0 can cause installation issues for Network Magic When using Kaspersky version 6.0 and Network Magic, Network Magic does not run and the Kaspersky process avp.exe consumes 98% or more of your CPU resources. This continues until either Network Magic or Kaspersky is uninstalled. This has been fixed in the most recent version of Kaspersky Antivirus.

Failure to start Network Magic trial If you have upgraded the operating system on your PC and get the following error when starting the Network Magic trial "Cannot Start Trial - Unexpected Error " please see the following KB article: http://support.networkmagic.com/cgi-bin/pure.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=192&p_created=1190413883

Upgrading to the new version of Network Magic could require reboot for shared folders from the desktop to work After upgrading to Network Magic 5.0, the desktop icon for Network Magic Folders and the right-click option to "Add to Shared Folders" may not work. To fix this issue, simply reboot the computer.

Firewall and Antivirus detection Network Magic uses the nmctxth process running in the Windows Task Manager for firewall and antivirus detection. If you stop this process, firewall and antivirus applications will not be detected and will stop functioning.

Net2Go

Net2Go in is not included or supported in Network Magic 5.0. If you wish to continue using Net2Go, you will need to keep your current Network Magic version and not upgrade to 5.0. Technical support will still be available for using Net2Go on older versions of Network Magic.

Hide SSID

The Wireless Protection's Hide SSID feature has been removed.

Add A Device

The Add a Device feature appears on the Network Tasks page only when Wireless Protection's Network Lock feature has been enabled.

x64 Support

Network Magic 5.0 has been tested on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Vista for x64-based systems. In this release for these platforms, Windows Desktop Shell Integration is not supported.

Windows 98 and Millennium Edition (ME)

Network Magic 5.0 is no longer supported onWindows 98SE and/or Millennium Edition (ME) operating systems. Do not upgrade to Network Magic 5.0 if you wish to continue using Network Magic on your 98 or ME machine.

Windows Service Pack Support

Network Magic 5.0 has not been tested on pre-release versions of Windows Service Packs. Testing on these Service Packs will occur as they approach readiness for release.






Speed Meter Pro 1.2

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What’s New In This Release

  • New Icons
  • New Platform


Speed Meter Pro 1.1

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What’s New In This Release

When browsing the Internet or just using your computer, it's frustrating when things seem to be painfully slow and there is no obvious reason why. Most users don't know how to check processes or network usage on their own, so they suffer through it and hope things will eventually improve. Speed Meter Pro is an easy-to-use application that shows how each computer on the network is affecting network traffic, current connection speed and status, and offers ways to improve overall performance.

Poor performance can be caused by a number of factors such as several computers on your network competing for bandwidth, the number of other wireless routers in your area using the same wireless channel, poor wireless signal strength, low memory on your PC, or simply a slow Internet site that's beyond your control.

Without identifying the true cause, you can spend hours of wasted time on the phone with support experts, searching through online help forums, or trying to figure out the problem on your own.  Speed Meter Pro helps you identify and understand the causes of poor network performance, answering the question “why is it slow?”

Unlike other computer-specific monitoring and optimization tools, Speed Meter Pro is a comprehensive tool that:

  • Scans across the entire network including connected computers, wired and wireless networks, and the Internet connection
  • Identifies the source of network slowdowns, saving troubleshooting time
  • Enables you to address problems quickly and optimize your network, wireless, and  Internet connection for maximum speed and productivity
  • Proactively monitors your network to detect issues that need your immediate attention

Features

Network Map

  • Presents a visual map of your network and connected devices
  • Uses gauges and numbers to display the overall traffic flow through your network
  • Displays alerts when issues are detected

Side Panel
  • Shows current status of the network including alerts, Internet connection speed, and local network connection speeds
  • Shows the current performance status of user-specified websites in the Website Watch List
  • Links to the Network Performance History

Scan Now
  • Lets you run all PC and network tests on-demand to check current status
  • Shows the results in an easy-to-read Summary that provides a full listing of all issues
  • Adds “Warning” severity for issues that are close to firing
  • Provides drill-down option into result details for current issues
  • Educates with “More info” links for items not currently affecting performance

Network Performance Tests
  • Tests your network connection to the Internet via Ookla’s SpeedTest.net
  • Tests the connection between the local PC and any device on the network with Pure Networks Platform installed

Performance History
  • Internet upload and download speed for each hour of the day
  • 30 day interactive trend graph of your hourly speed test results
  • Click functionality on graph for each hour reveals:
  • Upload and download results for that hour
  • Fastest and slowest speed test results for the day
  • Alerts fired for the selected hour and day, and how many times they fired

Website Watch List
  • Shows current performance status of user-specified websites
  • On demand “Test Now” functionality allows you to determine if website loading problems are due to that particular server, or if there is an overall slowdown/connection problem

Dashboards

  • Drills down into more network traffic details from the Network Map. Allows you to see upload and download speed, network traffic via trend graphs, and the top applications using network resources (for any device with Speed Meter Pro installed)

Alerts

  • Displays issues requiring attention in various network categories
  • Allows you to turn alerts on and off depending on what issues you are most concerned with and tailor Speed Meter Pro to your network needs

Internet Status
  • Notifies you when the Internet connection is broken
  • Helps pinpoint if connection and speed issues are on your local network, or if they're caused by your Internet provider

Local Network Conditions
  • Identifies connection issues and provides information about possible causes
  • Alerts you if connected devices or applications on the local PC are consuming an unusually large amount of bandwidth
  • Shows traffic for the router and network
  • Shows top applications using network bandwidth (for devices with Speed Meter Pro installed)
  • Alerts you of non-network conditions that could be impacting your network performance

Wireless Network Conditions
  • Alerts you when your wireless signal is low, slow, or interrupted and helps find the optimal positioning and signal
  • Determines the optimal wireless channel to use and displays an alert if it's not being used
  • Alerts you of non-network conditions that could be impacting your wireless network performance
  • Alerts you of excessive signal consumption by connected devices

Local PC Performance
  • Assesses memory usage and shows an alert when lack of memory affects your performance
  • Identifies applications using excessive amounts of resources
  • Displays an alert when your computer’s processor (CPU) is overworked and provides steps to resolve it

Details

  • Provides detailed information about alerts that display and steps to resolve the issue
  • Offers suggestions and how-to’s for improving performance issues

Licensing and Support
  • Speed Meter Pro licenses cover a network of up to eight PCs
  • Free Technical Support along with access to Priority Premium Support Phone Line

 

Known Issues and Helpful Information

For a current updated list of known issues and workaround, please go to http://www.purenetworks.com/support/.  Our support page contains all of the most up-to-date information about Speed Meter Pro, including an FAQ and a Knowledge Base.

Windows Service Pack Support

This release of Speed Meter Pro has been tested on pre-release and released versions of Windows Service Packs.  We will test with future Service Packs as they approach readiness for release.

General Speed Meter Pro Items

When you first install Speed Meter Pro and immediately click on the router icon, users with supported routers should see a dashboard of download and upload speeds. If you are seeing the router dashboard on one computer but not the rest, please be patient. The router dashboard will be visible on all Speed Meter Pro PCs once the router information is passed around the network. If there are computers on the network that are showing 0 bytes for router upload and download speeds when other computers are correctly showing data, please go to File menu, select Exit and then reopen Speed Meter Pro. The gauges on the router dashboard will now show the actual upload and download speeds.

After first installing Speed Meter Pro, Internet Speed Test may say that it is not currently available in your area. This can happen if you experienced Internet connectivity problems while starting your trial and going through the Lets Get Started screens. After regaining Internet connectivity, please go to File menu, select Exit and then reopen Speed Meter Pro. Clicking Test Now for Internet Speed Test should now let you continue to do the speed test.